House of Deréon Launch

Beyoncé and mother Tina Knowles hit London Fashion Week last night to launch their womenswear brand House of Deréon with a catwalk show at Selfridges. Previously only available in the US, the label will now be available exlusively at the department store.

Read a Q&A with Beyoncé and Mrs Knowles below:

How did the House of Deréon clothing line come to be?

Beyoncé: My mother designed the stage outfits for Destiny’s Child 15 years ago. Girls always asked me “how can we dress like that?” so it felt natural to create a clothing line.

Tina, how does Beyoncé’s personal style inspire the House of Deréon designs?

Tina: Beyoncé has the most amazing style and we raided her closet. She’s blessed to be able to travel all over the world, pick up new trends and share the new things that she’s discovered. So it’s really a great thing to have access to that.

How would you describe the House of Deréon girl in three words?

Beyoncé: It’s hard to describe the House of Deréon girl in three words but I would say that she’s definitely a trendsetter. She’s someone who’s very sexy, confident, bold and who likes to make a statement.

How do you think British style compares with American style?

Beyoncé: I love America and I love our style but I have to say the women here…they’re a little bit more experimental and they combine prints that maybe some of the women in America would be a little afraid of doing but it looks so sexy. I think Kate Moss is so hot and I love how she puts things together. I see things in her closet and I’m like “Why didn’t I think of that? To put that with that!”. I like that non-conventional and original approach to fashion and we’re very happy to borrow some of those influences and put it in the line as we’ve done in the fashion show today.

Who are your style icons?

Beyoncé: Well I already mentioned Kate Moss but my sister Solange actually is also a style icon to me. She is not afraid of mixing different cultural influences. She’ll put an African head wrap with an Asian print skirt and different colour blocking. I just love when people express themselves and use fashion as an extension of their personality. I also love classic women that are really elegant like Jackie O. There are so many beautiful, fashionable women it’s hard to pick just a few.

Tina: There are some from the past I find very inspirational. I love the old Hollywood glamour – Grace Kelly for classic beauty and Jackie O is one of mine also. Victoria Beckham is a great example of modern day style icon actually.

Beyoncé: Yes indeed, she’s very chic.

How does your music translate into the fashion line? Does one inspire the other?

Beyoncé: My music absolutely inspires the fashion line. I think fashion and music work perfectly together inspiring one another and for me, they always go hand in hand. My stage clothes are very different from my every day wardrobe and I think that’s what’s so beautiful about the line. We get to have things that are a little bit more ‘showstopping’ and things that are a little more classic. I just try to reflect that in what I wear, whatever I feel on a given day, whatever emotion I feel inside. I think that’s the beauty of being a woman, you can take things from your closet and express yourself in the most extensive way. I like to switch things up, sometimes I feel like a hipster, sometimes I feel like a diva and sometimes I feel like a very sophisticated woman. There are things in the House of Deréon line that represent all of those emotions.

What does your day to day wardrobe consist of?

Beyoncé: I don’t have one! I used to wear a lot of classic white shirts with a nice pair of straight leg jeans and great heels but I think now I’m wearing a lot of dresses and sexy jackets and scarves. I’m draping because clearly I am with child! But it has been really exciting to figure out new ways of wearing clothes because I don’t want to be the typical pregnant woman who has to wear a babydoll dress everyday so we try to keep it funky and sexy and like a woman.